Fretboard Radius

[51501984]

I usually have trouble getting the action my Strat fairly low without fretbuzz. A tech told me the reason is because of the radius in a Fender neck. He also mentioned that with a flatter radius neck it easier to set your action up low without buzzing . Is this the case?

 

[hareek]

Re: Fretboard Radius

I usually have trouble getting the action my Strat fairly low without fretbuzz. A tech told me the reason is because of the radius in a Fender neck. He also mentioned that with a flatter radius neck it easier to set your action up low without buzzing . Is this the case?

i'm not sure if that is true or not. I've played rounded necks like strats and flat necks like gibsons. Each both have great action, depending on the models. A higher praced american strat is going to have better action than a cheaper made model. My strat has excellent action and i prefer the rounded fretboard to a flat kind like gibson. Its smoother in my opinion. I have however played a couple of gibsons that had flat fretboards with the same, if not better action than my strat. From personal experience, each instrument is different and it really depends on the guitar at hand.

 

[SpiderVenom]

Re: Fretboard Radius

+1 to what hareek said.

However, action is in dependant on fretboard radius when taking bends into consideration. Basically, if the fretboard is flatter, the action can be set lower without bends choking. With a smaller radius (more rounded) you'll need higher action to avoid choking.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Fretboard Radius

Yes that's true. There are some variables but in the end it comes down to physics. It's harder to get lower action on a fender radius guitar and even with low action you're going to get some buzz and notes will choke out a bit when you bend them.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Fretboard Radius

Depends on if you can get your saddles to match the radius of the fretboard very closely.